What are the first steps I need to take to start a halfway house?

Question

If I wanted to start a halfway house for the homeless, what are the first steps I need to do? How do I start 501c non-profit? Can I run a charity from my home? Thanks!

Answer 1

depending on what country and county u live in their are city by laws that have to be followed for this type of housing and the city council has to approve the licensing of the house first then u have to get sponsors for the food like grocery stores, then the beds and bedding from a place like sears or Eaton's, or your local furniture store to donate these and hutches for clothing, then washers and dryers, appliances for the kitchen, a cook if u are providing a hot meal for these people etc. etc. it has to all be planned out very carefully before hand then implemented  

Answer 2

To start a nonprofit, you first need to get a very impassioned group of people together who support your idea and will provide some start up funding and serve on the board of directors, you need to get letters of endorsement from existing organizations saying this program is needed, you need to have data that shows your target group is in need whatever service it is that you want to provide and that they are not served otherwise, you need to have profiles of your staff showing they have experience and expertise, and you need to have a draft of what your first year's budget would look like (what expenses you expect to incur, what you expect to pay staff, etc.). You aren't going to have any money until you have donors, and you aren't going to have any donors until you have a viable, solid business plan for your nonprofits first five year's of existence. At some point, you need to decide if you are going to be a member of the board (and, therefore, not paid), or if you are going to be, say, the Executive Director, reporting to the board (and you can be paid -- and fired -- by the board).

And then there's the paperwork:

Starting a Nonprofit Organization

http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/s...

(one of my favorite resources)

Starting a Non-Profit

Checklist- The Things You Must Do to Start a Nonprofit Organization

http://www.ctnonprofits.org/pages/NonPro...

IRS Tax Information for Charitable Organizations

http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/...

For a halfway house, you will have to check zoning laws -- this facility will have to be in a neighborhood or area that allows for such. You will also want to talk to government agencies that would send you clients -- know what their requirements would be to send clients (and money) your way. Insurance will be a huge issue.